Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico
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United States Department of Agriculture Baho de Oro Natural Area Forest Service Luquillo Mountains, Southern Forest Experiment Station Puerto Rico New Orleans, Louisiana General Technical Report Peter L. Weaver SO-111 September 1994 The 745-ha Bano de Oro Natural Area, established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, in 1949, was made part of the Luquillo Experimental Forest Biosphere Reserve in 1976. The Natural Area, situated at elevations between 245 and 1,025 m in the wettest part of Puerto Rico, encompasses four major forest types that are free of human disturbance. Past and current research in the Bafio de Oro Natural Area is summarized in this document to serve as a basis for further investigation. The current state of knowledge regarding the environment (i.e., geology, phys- iography, soils, climate, hydrology, flora, and fauna) is outlined. The author is grateful to numerous researchers for assistance in the comple- tion of this report. Manuel Velez and his graduate students conducted the survey of the fauna in the Bafio de Oro. James A. Ackerman, Ned Fetcher, Charlotte M. Taylor, Janice Voltzow, Lawrence R. Walker, and Sandra Guzman of the Univer- sity of Puerto Rico Biology Department as well as Clyde E. Asbury, D. Jean Lodge, William T. Lawrence, John A. Parrotta, and Robert B. Waide of the Center for Energy and Environment Research (CEER) provided information for the ongoing Minority Research Program in the dwarf forest near the Baiio de Oro. Several others provided information on specific topics: Clyde E. Asbury, stream sampling; Sonia Borges, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, earth- worms; Allan Drew, State University of New York, College of Forestry and Environmental Science, ring formation in C~rillaracemiflora; Miguel A. Garcia, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, anoline lizards; Rafael Joglar, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, frog density and diversity; and Joe Wunderle, International Institute of Tropical Forestry, data from the phenology trail. Loren Huffaker of the Carribean National Forest devised an updated classification of the soils. Russell M. Burns, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington Office, and Margaret S. Devall, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, reviewed the entire document. This study was made possible by a grant from the United States Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program. The collaboration of the Univer- sity of Puerto Rico is recognized. Cover: Overview of Bafio de Oro Natural Area from the Yokahu Tower BACKGROUND INFORMATION ..................................... 1 Introduction ....................................................... 1 Administrative Details ............................................. 2 Historical Perspective .............................................. 2 Objectives ......................................................... 3 OVERVIEW OF MAJOR FOREST RESEARCH ......................... 3 THE B~ODE OR0 NATURAL AREA ............................... 4 Geology ........................................................... 4 Physiography .................................................. 6 Soils .............................................................. 7 Climate ........................................................... 8 Precipitation .................................................... 10 Temperature .................................................. 10 Relative Humidity ............................................... 11 Wind Velocity and Direction ...................................... 11 Cloud Cover and Solar Insolation .................................. 11 Hurricanes ...................................................... 12 Hydrology ......................................................... 13 FLORA ............................................................. 13 Major Forest Qpes ................................................ 13 Other Vegetation Qpes ............................................. 14 Tree Species Distribution ............................................ 14 Pico del Oeste Flora ................................................ 14 Vascular Plants .................................................. 14 Mosses ......................................................... 19 Leafy Hepaticae .............................................. 19 Algae ........................................................... 19 Other Dwarf Forest Studies ...................................... 19 Vegetation Gradient ................................................ 29 Current Research Activities ......................................... 31 Long-term Monitoring on TR-I .................................... 31 Phenology Trail .................................................. 37 Ring Formation in Cyrilla racemiflora ............................. 37 Minority Research Program ...................................... 37 Water Chemistry ................................................ 38 FAUNA ............................................................. 39 Vertebrates ........................................................ 39 Bat Study ....................................................... 44 Black Rat Study ................................................. 44 Puerto Rican Parrot Studies ...................................... 45 Other Bird Species Studies ....................................... 46 Anoline Lizard Studies ............................................ 46 Frog Diversity Study ............................................. 47 Invertebrates ...................................................... 47 Earthworm Study ............................................... 47 Studies of Other Organisms ....................................... 47 Classified Plant and Animal Species ................................. 47 FUTURE ACTIVITIES .............................................. 47 LITERATURE CITED .............................................. 48 APPENDIXTABLE 1 ................................................ 55 Bdo de Oro Natwd Area Luquillo sins herto Rico Peter L. Weaver INFORrnTION The purpose of this report is to compile relevant environmental information on the Baiio de Oro Research Natural Area (Baiio de Oro) in Puerto Rico. Introduction. Because research in the Luquillo Mountains has been extensive, much of the data was derived from published Research Areas (RNA's) are tracts On which sources. Original inventories of fauna and flora, how- natural features and processes predominate and which ever, have been included to complement other informa- are preserved for scientific or educational purposes tion. Subsequent research will undoubtedly result in (Federal Committee On Research Natural 1968)' the identification of additional species and will require The areas need not be pristine because this requisite supplements to this text. would preclude many ecosystems that have suffered some live1 of human disturbance and which no longer exist in an undisturbed state (Dyrness and others 1975). I-Iowever, if disturbed ecosystems are designated as RNA's, protective measures should be undertaken to restore them to their original condition through natu- ral processes. Research Natural Areas may vary in size from a few to several thousand hectares and preferably are surroundedtd,or buffered, by other protected land. Research Natural Areas are established to provide a baseline for comparison with areas influenced by human activity (Moir 1972). Research Natural Areas may include typical or unusual fauna and flora or may represent outstanding geologic, pedologic, or aquatic features or processes. They constitute reserves for the protection of rare or endangered organisms and serve as reservoirs for the conservation of genetic resources. Research on RNA's must be essentially nonmanipula- tive and reasonably consistent with the purpose and character of the surrounding land (Federal Committee on Research Natural Areas 1968). Deliberate manipula- tion simulating natural processes is occasionally allowed and, in some instances, encouraged to restore communities or organisms to their original state (Dyrness and others 1975). It is imperative that the U.S. Department of Agricul- ture, Forest Service, exercise control over all research activities to assure that they comply with existing guidelines and do not negatively impact the resources in the RNA. The Forest Service must grant permission for all research activities and review them regularly. Research Natural Areas managed under the above widelines serve scientists, resource managers, and the level. Area. Peter L. Weaver is a research forester at the International Institute of Tropical Forestry, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rio Piedras, PR 00928-2500. In cooperation with: University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, PR 00936-4984. Administrative Details Rio de la Mina at a 450-m elevation. From this point, the boundary is the Rio de la Mina to its confluence At the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898, the with the Rio Mameyes. A primitive trail parallels the Crown lands of Puerto Rico passed from Spain to the Rio de la Mina and terminates at the Rio Mameyes. The United States. In 1903, the United States government northeastern boundary is the Rio Mameyes and its proclaimed these lands as the Luquillo Forest Reserve, eastern fork for nearly half its distance after which the and since 1917 they have been managed by the Forest boundary follows along a ridge to a local high point at Service. In 1935, the Luquillo Forest Reserve